Teach Soap

Hi Guys!
I have yet another few bath bomb questions. I have finally got the shape to hold and stay perfectly round, thanks to all your help! but they seem to have gone powdery and not hard like rocks. they still fizz great, but I would like the harder bombs. Could it be that they weren't at that perfect point of "wet sand"?
Also I have heard some people use cornstarch in their bombs. What does it do? and do you use it?
I have also heard that some people add borax to their bombs in an oil/water mix. What does that do and does anyone use it? Is it safe?
Thanks!
Ellen

I prefer to stay away from borax. My bath bombs feel like damp sand before they are molded. I don't use corn starch as a filler.

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

Borax is good for laundry detergent, but not for direct application on skin, so I would stay away from it. I've also seen a couple of recipes out there that involve cornstarch here's a little blurb about what the cornstarch does:
"Derived from dried corn kernels, it helps give skin a fresh, dry feeling , soothes irritated skin and leaves it feeling silky and smooth. Also makes a great thickener for creams and lotions. It is the primary ingredient in commercial baby powders. Cornstarch can cause allergic reactions in people who are sensitive or allergic to corn or corn products"
http://www.peeptoadhollow.com/Benefits.htm

Hope that helps

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Tamra
New to soaping, long time crafter and artisan, avid learner of new things!

Some people use a little bit of clay (kaolin, I believe) to their bath bombs to make them harder.

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Please visit my blog

Thanks for your help guys!

Here is my no fail bath bomb receipe:

1 cup cornstarch
1 cup citric acid
2 cups baking soda
1/2 cup epsom salt
1/2 cup sea salt
2 tsp. water (I use distilled)
1/2 tsp. borax
1-2 tsp. essential or fragrance oil
2 tbsp. of a light oil like jojoba, grapeseed, fractionated coconut, or rice bran
optional a few drops of a soap safe dye colorant
Whitch Hazel in a spray bottle.

Note: to make a smoother bb I grind the salts down to be able to pass through a seive.

margo, are you using the borax as the water softener? Could you make your recipe without it?

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

I found this receipe years ago on the web and twicked it, after countless failed attempts. I've never tried it without the borax, but looking forward to comments if it works for others without it.

I've sold hundred of bath bombs using this receipe, with rave reviews.

Thanks! I'll try that recipe and i'll let you know!

Wow! I sprayed the outside of my powdery bath bombs with some Witch Hazel and they have hardened up on the outside! I'm sure they're still soft on the inside, but I don't think that will matter once they are in the tub!

Thanks so much everyone!